Abstract

An electron acceleration method is investigated which employs a short (τL ∼2πωω−1p ∼1 ps), high‐power (P≥1015 W), single frequency laser pulse to generate large amplitude (E≥1 GeV/m) plasma waves (wakefields). At sufficiently high laser powers [P≥17(ω/ωp )2 GW], relativistic optical guiding may be used to prevent the pulse from diffracting within the plasma.